Sporting CP beat FC Famalicão 2-1

Sporting Clube de Portugal returned to the Estádio José Alvalade on Tuesday night to kick off their 2021/2022 Taça da Liga campaign, winning 2-1 against FC Famalicão.

Coach Rúben Amorim made eight changes to his starting XI, fielding João Virgínia, Luís Neto, Gonçalo Inácio, Zouhair Feddal, Ricardo Esgaio, Manuel Ugarte, Matheus Nunes, Rúben Vinagre, Pablo Sarabia, Jovane Cabral and Nuno Santos.

FC Famalicão had already played their opening fixture against FC Penafiel, winning the Group B contest.

The team got their first goal after eight minutes, through Manuel Ugarte. He lined up an effort from outside the area and found the net against his former club.

Sporting CP, who had not beaten FC Famalicão since 2017, had another opportunity to score just a few minutes later, with the ball coming off an opposing player's hand after a shot by Pablo Sarabia, but referee Manuel Mota only signalled for a corner kick.

With Os Leões controlling the game and keeping possession, and FC Famalicão playing very low, Sarabia had another opportunity to make it 2-0, after half an hour of play, off a cross from Nuno Santos, but it was gathered by FC Famalicão goalkeeper Luiz Júnior.

In the final stretch of the first half, the intensity dipped, and the two sides went into the interval with the score at 1-0.

The FC Famalicão coach made three substitutions at the break, making his team more aggressive for the second half. Nevertheless, it was Sporting CP who made it 2-0 on the hour mark, through Nuno Santos, just after Pedro Gonçalves had come on for Jovane Cabral.

Rúben Amorim made further changes, introducing Matheus Reis, João Palhinha and Paulinho for Rúben Vinagre, Manuel Ugarte and Pablo Sarabia, respectively.

FC Famalicão had a shot by Ivo Rodrigues from outside the area. In response, Ricardo Esgaio tried a cross into the box, but the away team goalkeeper anticipated to catch.

In the final 10 minutes, Sporting CP had the chance to kill the game off, with a Pedro Gonçalves shot saved by Luiz Júnior.

That led to a goal for FC Famalicão that made it 2-1, after a mistake by João Virgínia at the back. Heriberto Tavares scored into an empty goal.

The referee added on another four minutes, in which the visitors had the ball in the net again, but Ricielli was clearly offside and it would not stand.

Sporting CP held out to take a 2-1 win, and a point against FC Penafiel on December 15th will be enough for them to reach the final four of the Taça da Liga.